Metal wheel



Dec. 13, 1927.

J. A. wHrrcoMB METAL 'WHEEL Filed July 29. 1920 Patented Dec. 13k,r 1927.

UNITED STATES JAMES A. WHITCOMB, OF KENOSHA, WISCONSIN.

METAL WHEEL.

Application filed July 29, 1920. Serial No. 399,826.

lThis invention relates to improvements in same reference characters indicate the same metal wheels, more particularly adapted for motor vehicle use.

Metal wheels stamped from commercial Aplate metal are now in common use7 and while desirable, they also contain many objectionable features,V such as the valve opening being located on the inner side of the rim and diilicult to get at, .and the necessity of carrying a complete spare wheel for the spare tire as said wheels are not adapted, constructionally, to have demountable rims connected thereto. This'necessarily increases the expense and also the load carried by the l5 vehicle.

Itis one of the objects ofthe present invention to overcome the before mentioned objectionable features and provide a metal wheel formed of cast metal which is adapted to hold the ordinary demountable rims or the straight side tires without rims and thus eliminate the necessity of carrying an extra wheel for each spare tire.

A further object of the invention is to provide a metal wheel upon which pneumatic tires may be directly mounted without the necessity of using an additional rim.

A further obj ect of the invention is to pro vide a light weight metal wheel formed of '"0 aluminum and shaped to vpermit shrinkage in casting without undue strain and having ribs positioned to efficiently strengthen the )a1-ts.

I A further object of thev invention is to provide a metal wheel in which the valve opening may be positioned on the outer side of the wheel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a metal wheel, preferably formed of i0 cast aluminum, and so shaped as to eliminate the harmful strains incident to the cooling of the metal in the casting operation, and thus form a structure well adapted to withstand the hard usage to which motor driven wheels are subjected.

A further object of the invention is to provide a metal wheel which is of simple construction, is strong and durable and is well adapted for the purpose described.

With the above and other objects in View, the invent-ion consists of the improved metal wheel and its parts and combinations as set fort-h in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing in which the parts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is an inner side View of the improved metal wheel;

lig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof; an(

F ig. 3 is a sectional detail view of a modified form of wheel.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral indicates the improved wheel which is preferably cast ol' aluminum and consists of the hollow hub portion 6, the annular rim or felly 7 and the connecting web 8. The web 8 in cross section, starting from the hub, curves outwardly as indicated by the numeral 9 and then curves inwardly as at 10, and then outwardly to the felly, forming a double curve or S-shape section which is particularly adapted to resist shrinkage strains in casting and to also resist severe strains incident to use. On the inner side of the wheel, ribs 11 are formed which extend from the hub radially outwardly to approximately the line of junction of the curved portions 9 and 10 of the web and gradually merge therewith.

The inner peripheral portion of the felly is formed with an annular flange 12 against which the side edge portion of the demountable rim 13 bears when positioned on the felly 7. The opposite peripheral edge portion 7 of the felly is beveled to permit the easy positioning of the demountable rim thereon and to accommodate a split wedge ring 14 which bears against the outer side edge portion of the rim. vClamping' blocks 15 positioned on the outer side of the felly and engaging the wedge ring 14 hold said ring and the rim on the felly. Bolts 16 extending through the clamping blocks and threaded into the felly openings 17 removably hold the clamping blocks in clamping position. To further strengthen the web and the felly around the openings 17, bosses or enlargements 18 are formed which are in radial alinement with alternate ribs 11. The tire 19 is secured to the demountable rim 13 in the ordinary manner common to rims of this type, and the valve 19 of the tire extends through the opening 7 ofthe felly 7 on the outer side of the wheel.

In the modied form of wheel shown in Fig. 3, the annular flange and the split ring and clamping blocks are omitted and in lieu thereof removable side flange rims 20 are positioned on opposite sides of the felly and secured thereto by bolts 16 which extend through the Aopenings 17 and have nuts-2l threaded on their ends` This construction 1s adapted for use with straight side tires,

and also if it is desired to carry a spare e l' wheel.

From the foregoing description, it will be `seen that the metal wheel is of very light weight and of simple construction, and'is well adapted for the purpose described.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A metal wheel formed of cast'inetal and having a. double wall hub portion with fiat outer sides and a felly portion' joined together byan integral web of S-shapev in cross section which closes the space between the'felly and the hub and'curves inwardly adjacent the felly and outwardly adjacent the hub, the inward curve Aof the web Vadjalcent the felly permitting the formation of a valvel opening through the felly on the outer sideof the wheel, the felly portion being so positioned withrelation to the hub portion that an imaginary line drawn radially centrally through the hub portion will cross a central portion of the web and extend approximately centrally through the valve opening and the felly, the inner side of the outwardly curved portion of the web acjacent the hub having radially extending reinforcing ribs. v

2. A metal wheel formed of cast metal and. having a double wall hub portion with Yf at outer sides and a flanged felly portion joined together by an integral web of {i3-*shape in cross section Awhich closes the space between the felly and the hub and curves inwardly forcing ribs.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signa- 

